Officers searched the area, but were unable to determine where the gunshots originated, Baldwin said.

It wasn't until the next day that the body of Jones was found in a nearby wooded area, Baldwin said.

Baldwin, who talked about the incident during a forum at First Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on the proposed Shot Spotter gunshot detection system for Fort Pierce, mentioned the fatal shooting of Jones as a case where the system might have helped.

Ralph Clark, president and chief executive officer of SST, the company that produces the system, said at the community forum, it involves a series of sensors that detect gunshots. Those working with the system then use mathematics to determine the address from where the shots originated.

Baldwin said he believes the system would have allowed for a more precise search following the shooting of Jones.

Linda Jones, the mother of the victim, who attended the meeting without the prior knowledge of Baldwin and did not know her son's case would be mentioned, said she liked what she heard about the system.

"I think it will help solve shootings," she said.

Linda Jones said that the system provides a location of the shooting is what impressed her.

Mike Simone, another resident who attended the forum, said he also likes the proposed system.

"I hear it (gunshots) all the time," Simone said.

He added that he owns rental property in Fort Pierce and the gunshots make it difficult for him to find tenants.

He hopes such a system would help to decrease such incidents, he said.

But Vera Harrell, another resident, said she's unconvinced the system would be effective unless it's combined with video surveillance equipment.

Baldwin said that the system has that capability and that if it's used in Fort Pierce, cameras could be mounted that would automatically turn toward direction where the shots were fired.

Baldwin plans to talk with the City Commission about the system on Dec. 17 to help determine if the city wants the system and how to raise money to pay for it, he said.

He estimates that to get a system covering 3 square miles, the cost would be $190,00 the first year, including startup costs, and then $120,000 annually subsequently.

The system isn't going to work like magic and solve all crime problems, Baldwin said.

"We're not going to put Shot Spotter up and it's going to solve the problem," he said. "It has to be part of a bigger plan."

ShotSpotter

What it is: A pole-mounted system tuned to listen for loud bangs

How it works: Sounds are electronically relayed to SST in California, which determines whether it is gunfire, firecrackers or a car backfire and relays information back to 911 within a minute.

What it tells police: The gunfire location, number of shots fired, number of different types of guns fired, direction in which shooter fled

Where it would be: A three-square-mile area in north Fort Pierce bounded by U.S. 1 on east, 33rd Street on west, Georgia Avenue on south and Avenue R on north

What it would cost: $390,000 for three years, undetermined thereafter

What's next: Fort Pierce City Commission will discuss purchase at a Dec. 10 meeting that starts at 8:30 a.m.When city will decide: The Police Department wants the city to make a decision before the end of the year.